Contents

History

Following the retirement of His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos of blessed memory, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW, determined that the Church in the Western Hemisphere would be better served, if the then Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America were to be re-structured into separate jurisdictions. Subsequently in July of 1996, a new Metropolis for Central America and the Islands of the Caribbean was established, to which His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras was elected.

The Metropolis covers a vast region, including Mexico, all the Countries of Central America, two Countries of South America, Colombia and Venezuela and all the Island Countries of the Caribbean, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

Since the Holy Metropolis of Mexico is under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, thus functioning separately and apart from the Archdiocese of America, nevertheless our Metropolis reflects and considers itself a daughter Church of the Church of America, which nurtured the region of Central and South America throughout most of the previous century.

Finally, as the Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Mexico for the aforementioned Countries, we are the only legal and legitimate entity for this vast region, representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox Church.